An short interview with Niels Paarup-Petersen, chairman of the steering committee at the new Mobile Commerce Education that will start in Helsingborg this fall.
Why does the world need an education in Mobile Commerce?
Trade and commerce is just as much as the rest of the world in a monumental shift where the customer’s knee-jerk reaction is becoming mobile first or mobile only. That means new demands for businesses but also new possibilities. We combine mobile solutions with micro-positioning services like iBeacon and knowledge about sales and design. The students will be the first of their kind, knowing how to patrol in the new business landscape.
What will the students be able to do when they graduate?
Our students learn how to get things done and produce real solutions, not only theoretical ones. They can create apps, build e-commerce solutions and design mobile commerce solutions for stores, museums, shopping malls, restaurants and many more. They will be able to make sure that the right information reaches the right visitor at the right time.
Are you teaching the students to code?
Yes, but also design, marketing and sales. We are teaching the students how to produce professional apps for iPhone, iPad, Android but also for Apple Watch and other profitable new technologies. The interesting part is not the programming but the solution you create.
How do you make sure you teach the right things?
We collaborate with some of the best minds in the industry and our students will be studying 10 weeks at a company to make sure they understand how the business actually works. We are always interested in hearing from companies who want to have a student as an intern. The companies do not pay any salaries during the internship.
Who are the students going to be?
At the other tech educations we provide our students are usually 25-30 year olds and almost half of the students are female. We believe it will be similar here. Our students have often studied or worked within advertising, media, print, web, sales or marketing. But everybody can apply – we have had nurses and teachers who have become some of our top students!
Why Helsingborg?
Helsingborg has a long and still thriving tradition of trade, logistics and commerce. We want to tap into that to create the best possible education and networks for our students.
So how do you apply?
Anyone interested can register at www.skyh.se and fill out the application form no later than May 24. The education will be in Swedish though.
The education is held by Skånes Yrkeshögskola, and is an advanced vocational college with education at post upper secondary levels approved and financed by the Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education (Myndigheten för Yrkeshögskolan) and is approved by CSN for student loans and grants. The courses will be held at Mindpark and the education is also in close collaboration with the E-commerce Park and the e-commerce incubator. Skånes Yrkeshögskola is a new sister company to Malmö Yrkeshögskola which is renowned for offering some of the most attractive app-educations in Sweden.
Transperancy: I, Karsten Deppert, am also involved in the steering committee, as well as Mindpark and the E-commerce Park. However, I do believe this is a very cool and forward thinking education.
